Letter: Teleprompter historically linked to the presidency

There is a popular notion that President Obama is “the teleprompter president,” and it appears again in “Obama coasting from one gaffe to the next” (Aug. 27 letter). Every president, starting with Eisenhower, has used teleprompters, with the exception of George W. Bush, who was unable to master the skill and instead relied on large index cards. (Yes, it’s a skill, one that requires more focus and concentration than reading from a piece of paper.)

Even Ronald Reagan, “The Great Communicator,” used a teleprompter. And talk about “gaffes” — George W. Bush’s are legendary and were compiled in book form.